115. Keeping a Diary for Your Health

Many people thinkthat keeping a diaryis somethingthat teenage girls do.It's seen as a spaceto write downwho you have a crush on,a place to write down secrets,things you don't wantanyone else to know.The stereotype is thatonly women keep diaries.In fact,your diary doesn't have tohave pink flowers on it.Keeping a diary,also called a journal,is a very old tradition.It can be usefulfor many different kindsof people.Many famous peoplehave kept diaries.Many powerful peoplehave kept diaries.Some of these peopleinclude famous writersand even presidents.

Keeping a journalis said to havehealth benefits.It improves not justmental and emotional health,but also physical health.Studies show thatkeeping a diary,that is,writing out thoughts daily,can decrease asthmaand arthritis symptoms.Writing usesyour left brain,which is analyticaland rational.While your left brainis busy,your right brain is freeto create and feel.This removes mental blocksand allows you to useall of your brain powerto better understandyourself, others,and the world around you.

The key to successful diary keepingis not editing,which meansnot stopping any thoughtsfrom coming through.This even meansallowing thoughtsthat disturb youto come outin your writing.It helpsclarify your feelings,and is especially usefulif a person is faced witha hard decision.Sometimesjust writing downthe pros and conshelp you betterunderstand an issue.You begin to see a problemfrom different angles.This is helpfulif you are havinga disagreement with others.